Answer

Thank you for your question.

Vitamin B Complex is used primarily for a healthy nervous system. If you suffer from neuropathy (tingling or numbness in your fingers and toes doctors may prescribe vitamin B complex. Similarly if you are getting lactic acidosis or feeling tired vitamin B can help.

Bactrim is the brand name for  a combination of two antibiotic (trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole). It is used to prevent Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), a type of pneumonia found commonly in HIV positive people. It protects against toxoplasmosis. Guidelines recommend this when CD4 count is below 200, but in some countries it is recommended at higher levels too..

The World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines do not state that either of these treatments are to be given to people with CD4 counts above 500. If you have a high CD4 count Vitamin B is usually only given to treat vitamin deficiencies.

Further information on side effects is in the i-base publication Avoiding and Managing Side-effects.

If you would like to talk about this,  the Phoneline runs on Mon-Wed from 12-4pm.

Answer: Charlotte Walker